Saagar Kote
Directed by Richard Linklater, ‘Blue Moon’ is the story of lyricist Lorenz Hart (Ethan Hawke), who gets stuck in an awkward situation in 1943. On one hand, he is challenged by alcoholism and mental health issues, and on the other, he stares down at his irrelevance as a songwriter. His former creative partner, Richard Rodgers (Andrew Scott), partners with Oscar Hammerstein II to create the musical “Oklahoma!,” marking the end of Lorenz’s collaboration with Richard. On the opening night of the new musical, Lorenz sits by the bar counter and hopes to avoid much interaction.
However, he feels drawn to a beautiful woman named Elizabeth Weiland (Margaret Qualley), who hopes he could introduce her to Richard. He sits down with Elizabeth and others at the bar to reflect on his personal and professional journey, only to run into Richard. Inspired by the real-life letters of Elizabeth Weiland to Lorenz Hart, the comedy drama is a haunting portrait of a man’s complex life. If you were intrigued by the plot and characters of the narrative, these movies, similar to ‘Blue Moon,’ will entertain you.
8. Song Sung Blue (2025)
‘Song Sung Blue’ chronicles the lives of Mike Sardina (Hugh Jackman) and Claire Sardina (Kate Hudson), a couple who bond over their shared love of music. In the late 1980s, they form a musical duo called “Lightning and Thunder” in honor of Neil Diamond. As they perform in different places, they earn greater recognition. Their careers reach new heights as they open for the famous band Pearl Jam. However, their marriage and professional lives are marked by severe ups and downs, threatening their future.
Hoping to find magic once more, they decide to perform again to keep their passion alive. Based on true events and Greg Kohs’ eponymous documentary, the Craig Brewer directorial is a story of redemption that depicts both the positives and negatives of the life journey of artists, while focusing on the meaning of music and beauty, making it similar to ‘Blue Moon.’
7. Jay Kelly (2025)
Netflix’s ‘Jay Kelly’ centers on an aging film star, Jay Kelly (George Clooney), struggling to comprehend his acting legacy. To rediscover himself, Jay embarks on a European journey with his dedicated manager, Ron Sukenick (Adam Sandler). The trip brings to light his complicated relationships with his daughters, Jessica (Riley Keough) and Daisy (Grace Edwards). As Jay meets strangers and familiar people who offer him new perspectives on life, he undergoes a transformative experience. With cinema and life converging, Jay must find his lost soul before it is too late. Directed by Noah Baumbach, the comedy-drama movie, like ‘Blue Moon,’ is an intimate exploration of an aging artist’s successes, failures, and significant life experiences.
6. My Week with Marilyn (2011)
In ‘My Week with Marilyn,’ curious film student Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne) secures a job on the London set of a film directed by Sir Laurence Olivier (Sir Kenneth Branagh). When movie star Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams) arrives, Colin is intrigued by her presence, just like the others around him. However, his real challenge will be to make sense of Marilyn’s private world when she gives him greater access to her personal life. As the actress grapples with issues related to her fame and beauty, Colin learns about the darker side of success in the world of cinema. Directed by Simon Curtis, the biographical drama movie is based on the real-life Colin Clark’s eponymous book and his book ‘The Prince, The Showgirl, and Me.’ It resembles ‘Blue Moon’ due to its examination of an artist’s legacy through meaningful conversations and heartfelt moments in intimate settings.
5. My Dinner with Hervé (2018)
Directed by Sacha Gervasi, HBO’s ‘My Dinner with Hervé’ deals with the experiences of Danny Tate (Jamie Dornan), a journalist from LA who gets the opportunity to interview a famous French actor named Hervé Villechaize (Peter Dinklage) in the city. The meeting between the journalist and the actor turns into a wild ride as Danny learns about the various challenges and moments that shaped Hervé’s life and career. As Hervé’s enigmatic personality unravels, the journalist must also find the courage to accept harsh truths that may change his views on success and failure. Based on a true story, the drama movie complements ‘Blue Moon’ by shedding light on an artist’s legacy through intimate conversations. Both stories feature characters going through existential crises and struggling to make sense of their lives.
4. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020)
Netflix’s ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’ is set in 1920s Chicago and follows Blues musician Ma Rainey (Viola Davis), who deals with disagreements and chaos during a recording session. She wishes to make music in her own style, which creates a conflict with her white manager. The trumpeter Levee Green (Chadwick Boseman) brings his own charm to the table as he inspires his bandmates to tell stories. As Ma deals with legacy and meaning, the other artists face the challenges of a difficult recording session. Directed by George C. Wolfe, the drama film is inspired by the real-life events of artist Ma Rainey and is based on August Wilson’s eponymous play. Akin to ‘Blue Moon,’ it is a commentary on musical legacy, individual ambitions, authenticity, and creative freedom.
3. Peter Hujar’s Day (2025)
Written and directed by Ira Sachs, ‘Peter Hujar’s Day’ follows a conversation between photographer Peter Hujar (Ben Whishaw) and his friend Linda Rosenkrantz (Rebecca Hall) in 1974 New York City. Peter discusses the meanings of his photographs and how he likes to capture important moments in people’s lives. Meanwhile, Linda hopes to understand Peter’s process and how he survives in a city where no one seems to be making enough money. As the two dance, talk, and stare at the sky together, they discover the deeper meaning of life and what it means to be an artist. The biographical drama film, based on Linda Rosenkrantz’s eponymous book, is a stunning examination of art. It captures the spiritual essence of ‘Blue Moon’ through its depiction of heartfelt conversations between two individuals, the daily struggles of an artist, and the issue of legacy.
2. The Iceman Cometh (1973)
Based on Eugene O’Neill’s play of the same name, ‘The Iceman Cometh’ is the tale of a salesman named Theodore “Hickey” Hickman (Lee Marvin) as he arrives at a bar called “The Last Chance Saloon” in 1912 and gets acquainted with the customers. He tells customers he can help them find peace and overcome their impractical fascinations. As he goes through the life history of a man named Larry Slade (Robert Ryan), he disappoints the bar patrons, leaving them frustrated and furious.
The customers then force Theodore to tell them secrets from his own life. This charged conversation may change the perceptions of everyone involved. Directed by John Frankenheimer, the drama film, through its focus on the tragedies and meaning of life, difficult conversations, and the commentary on human nature, is connected to the world and characters of ‘Blue Moon.’
1. My Dinner with Andre (1981)
Directed by Louis Malle, ‘My Dinner with Andre’ focuses on a conversation between actor Wallace “Wally” Shawn (Wallace Shawn) and former Broadway director Andre (André Gregory). The real-life actors portray fictionalized versions of themselves in the comedy-drama film. While Wallace isn’t really looking forward to the dinner with Andre, gossip suggests that the latter isn’t in his right mind. During their upscale French dinner at a Manhattan café, Andre describes his travels, applying theatrical improvisation to real life.
This evolves into a philosophical debate on modern life and Western society. The conversation becomes chaotic and engaging as the two men debate their life values and everything associated with them. The movie is closely related to ‘Blue Moon,’ as it celebrates the spirit of conversations, the ability of individuals to agree and disagree, and the meaning of life and legacy through the perspectives of artists.
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